I had Anglian Water contact me at my address kindly telling that I owe over £3000!! I asked how this could be as I had only lived at my partners address since last year and their records indicated I had been there since I think 2010, and I had somehow taken on my partners previous debt? I phoned them and explained everything offered £40 a week but was told that my partners debt's go back to 2005 and I was indicated as living here etc. they wanted proof of my old address/new address which I sent them and then received this email - Dear Mr Anthony **** ** ****** CLOSE NORTHAMPTON Thank you for your recent e-mail. I can confirm that we have now updated our records as per the proof which you have provided and the revised bill should reach you within the next five working days. Unfortunately, however I was unable to contact you or Ms ......... on the numbers provided as the calls went unanswered. The information on the both the accounts are listed below for your reference. Account number Account holder Liability period Current outstanding balance 1362**** Mr Anthony ***** 1 July 2012 – current £369.69 1018**** Miss Theresa **** 21 November 2005 – 30 June 2012 £2,869.63 I have now set up a payment arrangement on the account 1362**** and the new payment booklet should reach you within the next seven working days. The first monthly instalment of £40.00 will be due on 8 June 2013. However we are unable to set up a payment arrangement on the account 1018**** as it has been transferred to SRJ Debt Recoveries Ltd, therefore if you wish to set up a payment arrangement on this account, kindly contact SRJ Debt Recoveries Ltd from the below given contact details. SRJ Debt Recoveries Ltd 3 Genesis Business Park Albert Drive Woking Surrey GU21 5RW Telephone No: 0845 313 7200 Fax No : 01483 714845 If you’ve any further queries, we are here to help. Go to www.anglianwater.co.uk, our virtual assistant, Amanda, can answer many questions and guide you to further help. Customer Services ...................................................................... To which I replied - From the 1st July onwards the account should show as a joint amount as we both live here and are responsible for the water payments. I will not deal with or enter into any negotiations with debt collection agencies unless they can prove that i/we owe them the money with all of the previous statements / meter readings etc. Kind regards, Anthony. ...................................................................... Is there any way we can go about writing off the previous debt? I dont mind being £300 in arrears but not £3000!! My Mrs has said that in and around 2008 she cancelled the direct debit she had with them after they increased it without her knowing and she incurred bank charges - she never paid them again. However most of the debt was from her previous address before 2005!!! What can we do? SAR? Thanks again, Tony.